Marking machine



March 22, 1938. I c, (5, BROSTROM 2,111,612

MARKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1937 V III/[,4

Patented Mar. 22, 1938 MARKING MACNE Charles G. Brostrom, Salem, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson,

N. J., a corporation of Application January 8,

18 Claims.

This invention relates to marking machines and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine adapted for marking a shoe before its sole edge is trimmed to facilitate the trimming of the sole 5 edge with the desired extension relative to the upper. v

The trimming of a sole edge so that it has the same or a varying extension relative to the U per, depending upon the style of the shoe, re quires great skill and judgment on the part of the operator and, as a rule, is carried out by making successive trimming cuts each of which is receded by a careful inspection of the relation of the edge to the upper until the desired contour of the sole edge is obtained. This indirectness of the sole-edgetrimming operation, which it is an object of this invention to avoid, is largely responsible for the operation being relatively slow and hence expensive as well as requiring one of the most highly developed types of skill used in shoemaking. In view of the foregoing the present invention contemplates the use of a machine adapted for marking a shoe in order to indicate to the edge trimming operator the desired contour of the sole edge to which the sole, as roughly shaped, may be directly trimmed with a minimum of trimming'cuts and inspections.

To this end, theillustrated marking machine, which has a work guide adapted to engage the upper adjacent to the crease between the upper and sole extension of a shoe and a marking tool, includes, as an important feature of the invention, means for operating the tool to mark the shoe comprising a' member movable in one direction in order to control the relation of the guide and tool with reference to the desired sole extension to be indicated and in another direction to cause the tool to engage the shoe.

The marking operation is preferably carried out by imparting to the above-mentioned member one movement having components in the aforesaid directions and may be repeated at as many points about the forepart of the shoe as may be necessary definitely to indicate the contour to which the sole edge is to be trimmed. Whether the extension of the sole edge is to be the same or different at different points about the forepart, the location of the mark is controlled in the use of the illustrated machine, in accordance with another feature of the invention, by guiding means associated with the above-mentioned member constructed and arranged selectively to position the tool and the work guide relatively to each other in that one of a number of predeter- New Jersey 1937, Serial No. 119,655

mined relations which corresponds to the desired sole extension to be indicated.

As herein illustrated, the member for operating the tool is adapted to be swung between limits embracing all of the required relations of the tool *5 and guide and, upon being swung approximately to position the tool and guide in a certain desired relation, is disposed between converging guides which, as the swinging member is moved to cause the tool to engage the shoe, progressively position 10 the tool and guide accurately in the desired relation. A set of the converging guides referred to above is provided in the illustrated machine for each desired relation of the tool and guide and hence merely by their selection in accordance 15 with the desired position of the mark to be made, which requires but little care or time, an unskilled operator is enabled to mark either a uniform or a varying sole extension with great accuracy. 7

These and other features of the invention will I be apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective illustrating an exemplary machine embodying the invention, certain parts of the machine being broken away, and others being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation illustrating the 30 relation of the operating instrumentalities and a shoe during a marking operation; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a shoe after having een marked by the use of the illustrated machine. 35

Although the invention is exemplified herein with reference to the making of marks as indicated at A, B, C, D, and E (Fig.3) on the upper surface: of the welt of a Welt shoe S for indicating the desired contour to which the sole edge is 40 to be trimmed, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends the marking of the similar surface of any other-thamwelt type of shoe.

In marking a shoe by the use of the illustrated machine the shoe S is placed with the bottom of its sole resting on the support It (Fig. 2) and the side of the upper adjacent to the portion of the sole or welt to be marked bearing against a guide i2 fixed to the support thereby to position the shoe on the support. The shoe S, having thus been positioned, is then marked by a tool I4 at a distance from the upper corresponding to the desired sole edge extension, either with the help of a marking medium such as ink or by the pressu e of the tool alone, and at as many different points about the forepart of the shoe as may be necessary to indicate the desired line of trimming. Movement of the tool i4 into engagement with the work is effected by depressing a treadle l6 which is connected by an extensible rod E8 to a carrier 20 in the upper part of which the tool I4 is clamped, the carrier being arranged to reciprocate vertically in a slide 22 which is itself mounted on the support iii for movement laterally toward and away from the guide l2. The carrier 20 is normally urged toward its uppermost position by a coiled spring 2 ?r housed in a recess 25 formed in the slide 22, this position being variable and determined by a set screw 28 threaded in a rearward extension of the carrier 20 and adapted to engage the slide 22 as a stop.

Movement of the tool it toward and away from the shoe S laterally of the guide !2 is effected by swinging the treadle It sidewise; and connections between the treadle and slide 22, now to be described, enable the operator selectively to position the tool laterally of the guide i2 in any one of a number of different positions which correspond to various sole extensions which are commonly found on shoes the sole extension of which varies about the forepart. The treadle i6 is pivoted on a forked member 23 fixed to the lower end of a shaft 38 which is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 32 adapted to be clamped in a vertically adjustable post 3 3 by a set screw 35 threaded in the post. The post may be clamped in any desired position in a pedestal 31 by means of clamp screws 38 passing through slotted lugs in the upper part of the pedestal. On the upper end of the shaft 38 is mounted a bell crank 39 having on one arm a stud M received in a slot 62 in the slide 22 and extending crosswise thereof. It will now be apparent that, upon swinging the treadle l6 sidewise, the slide 22 will be moved laterally of the guide if! to position the tool M at the desired distance from the guide. The slide 22 is thus moved in a slideway i l formed in a block 46 fixed to the support It} and having a plurality of graduations E3 (denoted. by the characters A, B, etc), that one which is opposite to a pointer 50 on the bell crank 38 indicating the relation of the tool M and the guide l2 at that particular time.

The operator is assisted in positioning the tool l4 laterally of the guide 52 by connections comprising an arcuate member 52 adapted to cooperate with the treadle and fixed at the lower ends of a bracket 54 mounted on the lower end of the sleeve 32. The treadle 56, upon being swung to move the pointer 59 into the vicinity of one of the graduations 38, is then disposed above one of a number of pairs of converging guide surfaces 55, there being a pair of such surfaces corresponding to each graduation 48. It will now be understood that as the treadle is lowered, after having been moved laterally to the approximate position required to position the tool i l as desired, it is progressively positioned with respect to the member 52 as it approaches the vertex of the guiding surfaces 56 between which it is received. Thus, the tool is positioned laterally of the guide 12, and at the same time its movement toward the support is stopped whereby the depth of the indentation made by the tool, which is controlled by adjustment of the length of the rod is, is limited.

Of course, if the sole edge extension of a shoe to be marked is to be parallel to the upper at all points about the forepart, the marking operation will be repeated as many times as necessary with the tool M in the same position with respect to the guide l2.

If the part of the shoe which is to receive the mark is light in color or of relatively soft material, merely pressure of the tool may be adequate to make a clear mark; but if a mark clearer than that which may be made by the use of pressure alone is desired the tool M may be provided with a receptacle 58 for a marking medium such as ink which flows through a channel 60 in the tool It having in its lower portion a wick 62 which causes a regular and small flow of ink through a slotted orifice 64 adjacent to the marking edge of the tool Hi.

The operation of the machine will now be briefly summarized. A shoe S having an untrimmed edge, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, and which is to have the line of trimming indicated thereon, is placed on the support H), as described above, with the side of the upper touching the guide 12 at a critical point of the forepart, such as at the ball line at either side, the extreme toe end, or a point at each side of the shoe near the tip line. The treadle I6 is then operated to bring the tool !4 into engagement with the shoe at the desired distance from the upper, depending upon the width of the sole extension which is to be indicated at the point in question. It is understood that the treadle I6 is movable in two diiferent directions, laterally in order to cause the tool to be positioned laterally with respect to the guide 12, and downwardly in order to cause the tool I4 to engage the work. Although the treadle l6 may be successively swung and lowered to change the position of the tool l4 and to cause it to mark a work-piece, in practice, the operator will move the treadle Hi from one position to another with a relatively direct movement having components extending in both directions of movement of the treadle. Merely by moving the treadle I6 into engagement with that set of guide surfaces 56 which corresponds to the sole extension which it is desired to mark on the shoe, the tool I4 is accurately positioned with respect to the guide I2 without any other care on the part of the operator than that used in selecting the appropriate set of guide surfaces 56, which is facilitated by observing the relation between the pointer 50 and the graduations 48.

It is to be noted that the final lateral positioning of the treadle and the stopping of its downward. movement are effected simultaneously as the treadle is moved into the vertex of a pair of guide surfaces 56. Moreover, by adjusting the length of the rod 18 and the setting of the screw 26 any required amplitude of tool movement toward the work may be obtained and hence uniformity in the impression of the tool is insured.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a marking machine, a work guide, a marking tool movable into engagement with a work-piece held against said guide, said marking tool and guide being movable relatively to each other in accordance with the sole extension to be indicated by said marking tool, and means for operating said tool comprising a member movable in one direction to control the relation of said tool and guide and in another direction to cause the tool to engage the shoe.

2. In a marking machine, a guide shaped and arranged to engage the upper of a shoe adjacent to its welt crease, a marking tool, and means for operating said tool comprising an operatorcontrolled member movable in one direction to vary the position of said tool with respect to said uide and in another direction to cause said tool to engage the shoe.

3. In a marking machine, a guide shaped "and adapted to engage the upper of a shoe adjacent to its welt crease, a marking tool mounted for movement toward and away from said shoe to mark it and laterally of said guide thereby to control the position of the mark on the shoe, means for operating said marking tool comprising an operator-controlled member mounted for swinging movement in different directions, and means cooperating with said member when it is swung in one direction to limit the movement of said tool laterally of said guide.

4. In a marking machine, a Work support, a marking member mounted for marking move ment toward and away from said support, a guide, means for operating said member, and connections between said means and member mounted and arranged progressively to position said member with respect to said guide as said member approaches said support.

5. In a marking machine, a guide adapted to engage the upper of a shoe adjacent to its welt crease, a marking member mounted for movement toward and away from the shoe and laterally of said guide, operator-controlled means for moving said member, and connections between said means and member mounted and arranged selectively to position said member laterally of said guide in one of a number of predetermined positions.

6. In a marking machine, a, work guide adapted to engage the side of a shoe upper, a marking member mounted for movement toward and away from the shoe and for gaging movement laterally of said guide, operating means for said marking member and means cooperating with a part of said operating means for adjustably limiting the gaging movement of said member toward the guide.

'7. In a marking machine, a work support, a marking member mounted for movement toward and away from said support to mark a workpiece thereon, operator-controlled means for operating said marking member toward and away from said support, a work guide, said member being mounted for gaging movement laterally of said guide, and connections between said member and means for effecting said gaging movement.

8. In a marking machine, a guide shaped and arranged to engage the upper of a shoe adjacent to its welt crease, a marking tool mounted for marking and gaging movements toward the shoe and laterally of said guide respectively, means for controlling said gaging movement of the marking tool, means for operating said marking tool comprising an operator-controlled member, and connections mounted and arranged to utilize the movement of said member to operate said first-mentioned means.

9. In a marking machine, a guide shaped and arranged to engage the side of the upper of a shoe, marking means mounted for marking movement toward and away from said shoe and for gaging movement laterally of said guide whereby the position of the mark on the shoe may be varied, a rotatable member for controlling the gaging movement of said marking means, operator-controlled means for operating said marking means, and connections operated by said operator-controlled means for positioning said rotatable member. 7

10. In a marking machine, a guide adapted to engage the upper of a shoe adjacent to its welt crease, a slide mounted for movement laterally of said guide, a marking member carried by said slide, means for operating said slide and member comprising a treadle, and a stop cooperating with said treadle to limit the movement of said slide with respect tosaid guide. 1 a

11. In a marking machine, a guide shapedand arranged to engage the upper of a shoe adjacent to its welt crease, a marking member, a holder for said member mounted for movement laterally of said guide, means including a treadle constructed and arranged to move said marking member into engagement with the shoe, and a rotatable member connected to said treadle and cooperating with said holder to position said marking member laterally with respect to said guide.

12. In a marking machine, a guide adapted to engage the upper of a shoe adjacent to its welt crease, a marking tool, a carrier for said tool mounted for movement laterally of said guide, said marking tool being mounted on said carrier for -movement into engagement with the shoe, an

operator-controlled member mounted to swing in different directions, means constructed and arranged to utilize the movement of said member in one direction to position said carrier laterally of said guide, and connections operated by movement of said member in another direction for moving said tool into engagement with the shoe.

13. In a marking machine, a support, a guide, a marking tool mounted for movement toward and away from said support, a carrier for said tool mounted for movement laterally of said guide, a lever for operating said carrier, and operatorcontrolled means for simultaneously operating said lever and tool, said means comprising a member movable in one direction to operate said tool and in another direction to operate said lever.

14. In a marking machine, a work guide, a a marking tool mounted for movement laterally of said guide and toward and away from a workpiece held against said guide, a holder for marking medium associated with said tool, means for conducting medium from said holder to the workengaging surface of said tool, and operator-controlled means for moving said tool into engagement with the work to mark it, said means comprising connections mounted and arranged to vary the relative position of said guide and tool.

15. In a marking machine, a work guide, a holder for marking medium, a marking tool mounted for movement laterally of said guide andinto engagement with a work-piece positioned by said guide, the work-engaging portion of said member being shaped and arranged to apply medium received from said holder to said work-piece, and means for operating said marking tool comprising an operator-controlled member mounted for movement in one direction to position said tool laterally of said guide and in another direction to move said tool into engagement with the work.

16. In a marking machine, a guide shaped and arranged to engage the upper of a shoe adjacent to its welt crease, a marking tool, said tool being mounted for movement laterally of said guide and toward and away from a shoe in engagement with said guide, a treadle mounted to swing laterally and heightwise, connections between said treadle and tool, and a member having converging guide surfaces cooperating with said treadle to position it laterally when said treadle is moved into engagement with said member.

17. In a marking machine, a guide, a marking tool mounted for movement laterally of said guide and toward and away from a shoe in engagement with said guide, a treadle mounted to swing laterally to move said tool laterally of said guide and heightwise to cause the tool to mark the shoe, connections between said treadle and tool, and a stop having surfaces cooperating with said treadle to position it laterally whereby said tool is positioned laterally with respect to said guide.

13. In a marking machine, a guide, a marking tool mounted for movement laterally of said guide and into engagement with a shoe positioned by said guide, a treadle mounted to swing laterally and heightwise, and connections between said treadle and tool mounted and arranged to move the tool laterally of said guide when said treadle is swung laterally and to move said tool into engagement with the shoe when said treadle is swung heightwise.

CHARLES G. BROSTROM. 

